News Room

Election Judges Needed to Work Election Day 2018 Polling Places

SAINT PAUL — Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon in 2016 challenged the people of Minnesota to return our state back to number one in voter turnout. You did it! You now have the opportunity to take your participation to the next level – become an election judge at a polling place on Election Day.

“Successful democracies require active citizen participation,” said Secretary Simon. “Minnesota returned in 2016 to #1 in voter participation, but that can’t happen without our election judges who serve on the front lines of democracy. These dedicated Minnesotans are critical to ensuring that elections not only happen, but that the rights of voters are protected on Election Day. If you are looking for a way to protect our democracy, I encourage you to consider applying to take part in this opportunity.”

Minnesota’s primary and general elections this year will each require more than 30,000 Minnesotans to serve as election judges. Secretary of State Steve Simon today called on interested Minnesota residents to sign up to serve as election judges during the August 14 Primary Election and the November 6 General Election.

It’s expected that about 30,000 Minnesotans will be needed to serve as judges in more than 3,500 polling places. Most election judges are hired by cities and counties and receive training over the summer. Interested Minnesotans can apply and learn more about becoming an election judge here: http://url.mn/3bbfdd1.

Applicants must be eligible to vote in Minnesota; be able to read, write and speak English; and attend a training session provided by local election officials. Students age 16 and 17 can apply to be election judge trainees. Election judges can choose to volunteer or be paid; wages vary by city.

Election judges receive training in a range of duties, including greeting and registering voters, providing ballots, assisting voters as needed, overseeing ballot-counting machines, and compiling precinct voter statistics at the end of Election Day. Election judges also have a legal right to take time off of work to serve without penalty.